"It seems that only when I humiliate you do I feel like I am still an emperor. The Empress Dowager has gradually lost power, and Nan Su has been transferred to the border by me. He is not allowed to return to the capital without an imperial edict."
"I've always been searching for a sense of satisfaction, so... I often take it out on you, always finding fault with you, thinking of ways to punish you." As Yu Jingchen said this, he felt the flustered breathing of the little one in his arms. He was still affected...
But Yu Jingchen did not stop talking.
"Regarding the Nan family, it's a deeply ingrained idea from childhood that I can't change. So it's all my stubbornness and arrogance that caused you so much suffering. Nan Zhiyun, I... I apologize to you, okay?" Yu Jingchen's tone was completely different from usual.
Nan Zhiyun didn't speak. Perhaps it was because it was too cold; not only was her face red from the cold, but even her eyes were red.
"It was all my fault before, you can blame me, but... Nan Zhiyun, I regret it now, so I'm begging for your forgiveness. Can you accept this belated apology?" Yu Jingchen asked, releasing her and looking at her cautiously and tentatively.
Nan Zhiyun looked away, unsure whether she didn't want to look at Yu Jingchen or didn't know how to face his question.
"You really won't forgive me?" Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun stood facing each other.
"This concubine dares not..." Nan Zhiyun's voice was choked with sobs. Yu Jingchen watched, and sure enough, after saying this, Nan Zhiyun's tears fell silently down her cheeks.
Yu Jingchen felt a pang in his heart: "Don't cry..." Yu Jingchen reached out to wipe away Nan Zhiyun's tears.
Nan Zhiyun dodged, and Yu Jingchen's hand froze in mid-air.
"I'm fine," Nan Zhiyun said, wiping away her tears herself. Just as the Empress Dowager had said before, she had grown up and no longer knew how to lift the covers. And now... she had grown up and no longer needed anyone to wipe her tears.
"Is it really unforgivable?" Yu Jingchen lowered his hand.
“Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and everything you do is right. I dare not blame Your Majesty, much less talk about forgiveness,” Nan Zhiyun replied.
After hearing Nan Zhiyun's answer, Yu Jingchen was silent for a moment before continuing, "Alright, then I won't ask whether you choose to forgive me. I just hope that you won't hide anymore, won't be afraid anymore, and won't... give up and refuse to face me anymore, okay?"
"Your Majesty, I'm just a little tired..." Nan Zhiyun's words were interrupted by Yu Jingchen before she could finish: "I don't need you to be the same as before. This time, you just need to not hide. I promise you, what happened before will never happen again. From now on... I will protect you. I won't treat you the same way as before, and I won't let anyone else hurt you... Nan Zhiyun, please trust me this time, okay?" Yu Jingchen's tone was pleading.
However, Nan Zhiyun remained silent, which disappointed Yu Jingchen, but he couldn't really force her. The two stood there in silence, until finally Yu Jingchen took a step back and chose to compromise.
"Fine, if you're unwilling, I... will wait until you're willing to answer and give me a definite answer. Nan Zhiyun, even if you want to hide this time, you can't, because you're too late." Yu Jingchen said to her, then took Nan Zhiyun's hand again.
"Since you don't like it here and feel cold, let's go back first," Yu Jingchen said, and then he led Nan Zhiyun away.
Xinglai, Qianxia, and the others didn't dare to breathe loudly in the back, after all what had happened today... especially what Yu Jingchen said. They still felt like they had misheard.
It was still Qianxia... After hearing all this, she actually felt a pang of sadness. Did this mean that their young lady had finally made it through? Did it mean that she would finally be free from suffering from now on?
Practically speaking, she hoped Nan Zhiyun would be well, and that His Majesty would treat their young lady with genuine affection. A harmonious marriage wouldn't be the best option.
But... in her heart, she felt sorry for her young lady, because her young lady had really suffered a lot of hardship and suffering in the past, and all of this was caused by Yu Jingchen.
So she was actually conflicted. As Qianxia looked at the two people in front of her, she suddenly remembered some of the things the Empress Dowager had said to her.
The Empress Dowager said, "Yun'er needs someone to protect her throughout her life. She is gentle, too kind, and lacks cunning. What will she do if no one protects her? It's impossible for me and A-Su to be by her side forever..."
She didn't quite understand before, but now she seems to understand a little. However, she doesn't know if what the Empress Dowager said meant what she thought, or if the person she was thinking of was the one she believed.
When the Empress Dowager returned last time, she seemed quite averse to His Majesty's contact with her young mistress. What could be the reason for that? The General will be returning at the end of this year, and not only the General, but I heard... that person will also be returning. What should we do then? A vague sense of worry began to creep into Qianxia's heart.
He'an Hall
Yu Jingchen had been holding Nan Zhiyun's hand the whole way, and upon returning here, he immediately helped her remove her cloak and other items. He also casually instructed, "Go prepare hot water; your concubine needs to bathe and change."
Before he could finish speaking, he immediately added, "Go and prepare another bowl of ginger soup to warm you up and dispel the chill." As Yu Jingchen spoke, he had already led the person into the inner room.
"After you finish the ginger soup, take a good hot bath so you don't catch a cold," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent the entire way, still clutching the plum branch she had just broken off. Yu Jingchen saw this and casually took it from her.
"Why are you still holding onto this? Just throw it away," Yu Jingchen said, and then, just as he was about to hand it to Xing Lai, Nan Zhiyun stopped him.
“Your Majesty, I wish to keep it…” Nan Zhiyun said.
"What's the point of keeping this?" Yu Jingchen asked, puzzled, but he still took the plum blossom branch back.
“These plum blossoms were blooming so beautifully, but I broke them off. I don’t want to throw them away, so I’ll put them in a vase and let them continue to bloom,” Nan Zhiyun said.
"Whatever you say, then keep it." Yu Jingchen gave the flowers to the person next to him.
"Go find a bottle to put it in," Yu Jingchen instructed.
"Yes," the palace servants replied.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun again: "If you're willing, you can have them pick them for you later."
"No need, I just don't want the flowers I picked to be thrown away so carelessly..." Nan Zhiyun replied.
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